SHORT IN HEIGHT, TALL IN COURAGE
Chapter 20
The Changing of the Guard
Shermake was placed in a medically-induced coma due to the severity of his wounds. The Team sat dutifully by his hospital bed in four-man shifts, with one man always praying.
Due to administrative duties, I took care of the office until General Iverson arrived and ordered me to the hospital. He took over the admin duties. Mrs. Iverson set up shop at the hospital, organizing the men's needs in food, rest, and clothing changes. In other words, she acted as a mother figure for the entire hospital stay of Shermake, 37 days. Her acts were simple but comforting, and the men ate up that kind of attention.
An example is when she walked into the hospital room to the sight of blood soaking through Amani's and Mar's bandages as they tended their bedside duties. She dragged the nurses in, bodily. There was no mistaking that she was General Iverson's wife by her take-charge attitude. Most of these men had lost their families, their mothers, and Mrs. Iverson would not let them fend for themselves during this critical time. The men began calling her 'Mama Iverson,' which seemed to further energize her. Remember, she had lost her son, Mark.
When the day came that the doctors let Shermake wake up, the entire Team was there to await the outcome. His eyes opened very slowly, then he whispered, "God is good."
Evidently, he wasn't aware of the crowd in the room. Everyone added, "All the time." That startled him. He slowly looked around at the people surrounding his bed, giving them a weak smile, saying, "I thought I had gone to heaven, and the angels had responded."
Samuel clasped Shermake's hand, being careful to go around all the tubes inserted in it, and recited Psalm 100:5 from his favorite NIV Bible, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Then Samuel said, "Let us pray." At that, he looked to Artie and nodded his head, telling him, "If you please, Artie."
Artie didn't hesitate. He said a beautiful prayer. His conversion still sends a shock through all of us that had known him before. Indeed, for God, nothing is impossible.
The weeks went by, all the wounded recovered slowly and returned to duty. Even Shermake was getting around with ease without his wheelchair. How blessed we are. But, as for me, I felt a spiritual tumor growing inside me. I needed to make a difficult decision, then inform The Team what their future and mine might look like. I called the meeting for the coming Friday afternoon when General Iverson would be there. Leah agreed to the commitment. I told Mrs. Akech that her attendance was mandatory, just as a bountiful collection of her treats was compulsory for the meeting. Artie and Giff called, expressing that they had been insulted by not being invited. I told them that I was calling everyone, not sending invitations. They calmed down with that. Writing and practicing hundreds of different speeches, in the end, throwing them all away in favor of just speaking from my heart.
Friday afternoon arrived. The lobby was crowded with people munching beside tables filled with Mrs. Akech's delicacies. After each person filled their plates to overflowing, they meandered off to the meeting room. I walked into the kitchen to gather up Mrs. Akech, telling her to drop everything. She turned away and wouldn't look at me nor talk to me. With concern, I asked, "What's wrong, Mrs. Akech? Are there problems at home?"
Keeping her head turned, she cleared her throat several times, then muttered, "I've known in my heart for a long time what you are going to tell us, Mr. JJ. I see you sitting there in your chair in your office, staring into nothing day after day. I can see a great battle that you are fighting on the inside. The Holy Spirit in me tells me many things about the hearts of other people. All those people in there, you are going to break their hearts, along with mine." At that, she turned to me with her eyes filling with tears.
I put my arms around her, "Mrs. Akech, you are going to make me cry."
She and I walked into the meeting room with our own plates filled with heavenly delicacies. Mabior jumped up, pulling a chair out for Mrs. Akech to sit. I set my plate on the table as I took in a deep breath.
"Thank you all for coming. When Mark and I left the meeting where WCPN handed us this commission to form a team, we were totally clueless about where to start. Many days were spent praying for God's guidance while sequestered in our hotel room. Mark and I were frantic."
Keeping my voice from cracking was difficult. "One morning, Mark and I decided to go out and find a coffee shop. We just sat there drinking coffee in a little coffee shop in Houston, Texas. Nothing was said. Responsibility lay heavy upon our hearts. Our spirits, along with our egos, were deflated. The excitement of the initial award had been reduced to spiritual pain. That's when Mark began to act as though someone was talking with him. I asked what was going on? He replied, "The Lord just told me to stand up and quit acting like we are dead, for He is the God of the living. Then the voice just said, 'Go!'"
Samuel gawked at me, then uttered, "Wow! Why have you never told us about this before? I always felt you must have had a visit from God to put his stamp of approval on this holy venture. Continue, Chief."
"Well, we went back to the hotel room to continue in prayer, but on the way in, we were approached by a man from, of all places, South Sudan, a Dinka as he informed us. He smiled and asked, 'Are you gentlemen struggling with a spiritual matter?'"
"Both of us literally jumped back at that question. I replied, "Yes, why do you ask?"
"His reply was, 'Have you given thought to the world's newest nation, South Sudan? The answer to your struggle may lie there, gentlemen.' Then he just walked away, never to be seen again. Our inquires as to his identity were met with negative responses. We never learned who the man was."
"We rushed to the hotel room and searched for South Sudan on the computer. We spent the next week devouring huge chunks of info on South Sudan. A dossier was developed on the country, its government, political situation, roots in Christianity, and all the Islamic and other dangerous militia groups in North Africa. Mark and I had spent a considerable amount of our military careers in or concerned with North Africa. But we needed to refresh our knowledge and build up our Arab language skills. After going at it seven days a week for several months, it was time to go to South Sudan. We spent the next two months digging into the local Christian community. That digging with praying led us to Yei, South Sudan. For the first time, we sat down at Fred's for coffee. Trying to explain to Fred our mission. He gave us Mabior's name. Fred told us that he was an incredible Christian young man till his family's massacre had sucked the life out of him. You all know the result of that lead and the domino effect created by it to find the rest of you."
Deng spoke up, "Chief, there is no way one can miss the implication that God has been directly involved in this mission from the beginning."
General Iverson interrupted, "Gentlemen, there have been several instances of word from God's messengers coming to WCPN members. One only has to look at Samuel to know that God has his divine hands on this mission."
As the meeting went on for over an hour, I decided it was time to speak my piece, "Team and guests, I have been struggling with a dilemma of late. When I took this commission from WCPN, I was up in years, past my prime. God and you men have taken up the slack that my age naturally creates. You must watch over me daily and make adjustments for the slowness that naturally creeps in as one ages. I fully knew in the beginning, as WCPN knew, that, once The Team gained the ability to function independently of me, I would step down. That time has come."
The room was dead silent. Mrs. Akech left the room in tears. I couldn't hold the tears back anymore when I saw that everyone else was suffering the same ailment. Samuel stood slowly, asking, "Chief, what will happen to The Team? The world, Christianity needs this unit."
I interjected with, "Samuel, this is not the end of The Team. The Team's whole is much more than the sum of its parts. All of us are loved, and any one of us being lost would hurt deeply, like Mark and Chan, but none of us are irreplaceable. The Team was designed with that very idea in mind."
Mabior stood, he raised his hands to calm everyone, then spoke, "Chief, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to have served under your leadership. You have treated me with nothing but the greatest respect and courtesy. As the first member chosen by Mark and you, I must say that I could never visualize the day when you or Mark would not be here among us. I know that we are capable, there is no question as to that, but capability is nothing without great leadership. Are we to become a rudderless ship?"
Inhaling another deep breath to stave off tears, I answered his question, "A rudderless ship? Mabior, the U.S. had a president in the late seventies, Jimmy Carter, a faithful Christian. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, was a faithful Christian, also. I used one of her quotes to form my leadership style, 'A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.'
Once more, I cleared my throat, "Mabior, you are not just my Executive officer but a loyal and faithful friend. I have watched you grow into leadership. On numerous occasions, you have told me that you love being a Christian Soldier, but you never want to sit idly in an office while your men are out sacrificing their lives. Mabior, as your leader, at this time, I'm afraid that I have to take you where you do not necessarily want to go, but ought to and will go. I, James Jefferson, Commander of The Team, promote you to the position of Commander of The Team, replacing me in my retirement."
All was silent for a few moments until it was absorbed into their minds. At that moment, the scene escalated into pandemonium mixed with tears for my exit. People pummeled Mabior's body with slaps, hugs, and vigorous handshakes. It took a lot of effort to calm the scene.
Smiling, I congratulated Mabior, then asked him to speak.
He rose slowly. I could tell his mind was going all over the place at the moment. Surprisingly he started off by cracking a smile and a joke, "Somebody by the name of Den Heijer, I think it's pronounced, said, and I paraphrase, 'When I talk to generals, I get the feeling that they are important. When I talk to Generals who are leaders, I get the feeling that I am important.'" Everybody had a good laugh at that, especially General Iverson. "I have indeed said what the Chief accuses me of saying and said it often. However, Samuel has taught me by example that I go where God sends me, and I do what God asks me to do, for it is about his will, not mine. Chief, you introduced me to Thomas Sowell, one of the greatest American Philosophers. Mr. Sowell said this about being in charge, 'People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.' In the same manner, as our Chief, I will attempt to limit meetings. Of course, if Mrs. Akech, bless her heart, continues to create masterpieces such as this laid out before us, I cannot promise anything. Okay, I'm out of words at this point."
Mabior sucked in a deep breath, "Contrary to what all of you must think, I was totally in the dark about this. However, make no mistake, this is truly a great honor. I shall do my best to live up to any expectations. Thank you. We all will miss you, Chief."
General Iverson, seeing that as a good spot to introduce his news to The Team. He stood up and pinged his water glass several times with his spoon, "Gentlemen, Commander Mabior and the rest of you men are the most highly vetted men on this earth. You have no worries as to who is your new Commander or who is sitting around you. You are the "creme de la creme. I tell you this because I want you to know that none of you, whether due to illness, injury, or age, will be allowed to be put out to pasture. To prove this point, WCPN, with 100% of the board consenting, has given General James Jefferson a new position; OIC, Officer in Charge, of acquisition. His office will be built in this very compound per his request. He will not be here to spy on the new Commander or any other of your operations other than to lend technical and operational support. Let's welcome our new OIC of Weapons Acquisition." The room exploded with cheers. The General continued, "To replace Mabior as Executive Officer takes a huge man that is tall in experience and his devotion to God. The one man that stands out in this respect is huge in every respect. Mr. Samuel Nathanael Winston, stand up, son."
General Iverson waited for the applause to subside, then continued, "Congratulations, once again, the vote was 100% in favor of Samuel's promotion." The room erupted in cheers once more.
General Iverson reached over to shake Samuel's hand. After that, he put on his game face, as we referred to it. "Gentlemen, The Team has a space to fill. I have been given a man's name to consider by Mr. Jefferson. The name was previously unknown to you all, but he has been thoroughly vetted. He comes with astounding references in studies and athletic abilities. His name is Chad Shaw. Mr. Artie Shaw has given me permission to give you info concerning his son and his relationship. Chad is Mr. Shaw's illegitimate son that he has supported and mainly raised in secrecy. Chad has lived with his mother, that never married Mr. Shaw. His Mother and Father made sure that he was raised in the church and well educated, especially in Biblical studies. As to athletic skills, they are solid when you consider that he plays for Arsenal in England. He made it clear that his dream is to be a member of The Team and that he will forfeit his contract if chosen. Next week, Chad Shaw will fly here to be assessed in person by you all. The vote will be taken at that time. Thank you."
A lot of whispers and aside conversations went on at the news of the recruit. Artie answered all questions with the look of a very proud father.
Leah stood to address the crowd. She began, "Sam and I think all of you should know a couple of things about us. I was sent here to deliver an official offer in writing from the Director of Mossad. He has invited Sam to become a member of that organization."
The room was brought again to whispering and aside conversations. I asked for quiet then motioned for Leah to continue.
"Sam, with my complete support and backing, has turned down this offer that is a great honor for him. He wishes, in his humility, for me to tell you this, 'Here is where God has planted him, and this is where he shall stay until God assigns him elsewhere or he outgrows any usefulness.' Also, Sam and I wish to announce that we shall marry two months from today in Tel Aviv. Of course, every one of you is ordered to be there or be executed. JJ will serve as best man. One last item - shortly before the wedding, I will resign from Mossad to become a full-time wife and soon, if God is willing, a mother of our children."
I thanked Leah for the wonderful news and congratulated her and Samuel. After all the life-altering announcements this afternoon, I think everyone was a total wreck. It was then that I noticed Mrs. Akech quietly returning to the room. She made her way over to me. Her comment was, "What a sad and happy day that our Lord has brought to us."
Yes, the meeting had ended with sadness laced through with new hope. The Team was and is strong. Some organizations with this many strong personalities can self-destruct, but The Team was built with strict codes of reliance on God, His word, His will. Complaining and second-guessing leadership are looked down upon. There is an outlet for complaints or concerns that carry no repercussions. Gossip is forbidden. Respect is demanded of everyone.
Overall, it was a day of great new beginnings and continued excellence. Upon close examination, I wasn't actually leaving, and the transition to a new Commander and Executive Commander was off to a strong start by promoting from within. Excellence should be expected from an organization devoted to God.
A week flew by. The CTeam and I stood in a single-line formation to give a warm send-off to The Team. This was their first mission since Mabior had taken command a week ago. Gradually, I had been turning over the control to him for years. The actual transition was smooth.
The men made their appearance marching toward the waiting C130 in single file. I called the CTeam to attention as they neared, then ordered a salute. It was all done in a very snappy military manner. I was as proud of the CTeam as I was of The Team. With Mabior in the lead, The Team came alongside us and stopped. Mabior fell out of formation to come over and give me a big hug. Then, Everyone broke formation to give me a tearful hug. I had promised myself that I would not get emotional. Right.
After hugs, they surrounded me, and all began to chant, "For God, for God, for God," quietly at first, rising slowly to a crescendo. The CTeam and I joined in. It was emotional.
Finally, Mabior called out, "On the plane! Remember, he ain't going nowhere. He'll be here when we return. The Chief's got that cushy job that's going to make him very fat, very soon." The laughs resounded.
As the ramp closed and the four mighty motors fired off one by one, we backed away to the fence. The sound of the plane's engines increased dramatically as it began a slow taxi to the takeoff point. Soon, exhaust billowed as the pilot brought the motors to full rev with brakes on. As he released the brakes, the pilot guided the plane on what began as a slow lumber down the runway. Its speed picked up quickly, then the dark-green bird lifted powerfully into the air. The wheels were sucked up into its belly as it climbed at a steep angle skyward. Just as we began to turn and leave, someone shouted, "They're coming back!" Sure enough, the pilot gracefully leveled the plane, then flew a wide-sweeping circle back, making a very low-altitude pass directly over us with wings waving adieu. All of us returned the wave enthusiastically. Standing there like a contingent of plane-spotters, we watched till it faded south into the early morning sky.
As we watched the plane disappear, I recalled the last words I spoke to The Team over dinner the previous evening, "Don't you understand? It's not just Samuel. When I found you, you were all short in height, helpless, and beaten down by life. However, every one of you was tall in courage. Not one of you refused our offer, filled with brutal expectations and danger. It has been my honor to lead you."
Having ignored my phone's vibrating for some time, I needed to answer, "Hello. Morning General Iverson, how are you? How many hostages? Well, The Team just lifted off for Nigeria. I know that you know that, sir. Do what? The CTeam are mostly kids! I know there are six or seven that look like adults. Samuel told you that? Well, yes, they are highly trained, but..."
THE END
Actually, it's only the end of the beginning. See you later.
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